As China takes up the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council this month, Beijing is stepping forward to challenge a decision that could leave Lebanon without vital international peacekeeping support. Ambassador Fu Cong stressed on Friday that the council should urgently reconsider its plan to withdraw the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by the end of the year, warning that conditions on the ground remain far from stable. China’s intervention highlights mounting alarm over a worsening humanitarian crisis. Lebanese authorities report that at least 2,618 people have been killed and 1.1 million displaced since March 2, underscoring the severity of the situation. Against this backdrop, Beijing argues that removing a peacekeeping presence that has helped stabilize the region since 1978 would be both premature and dangerous. The risks are further illustrated by the toll on the mission itself. Six peacekeepers, including personnel from Indonesia and France, have lost their lives in recent attacks, while many others have been injured carrying out essential duties such as demining and humanitarian aid delivery. António Guterres has condemned these attacks, emphasizing that UN personnel are being targeted while fulfilling critical protection roles. Fu characterized the current situation not as a true ceasefire, but as a fragile pause—a “lesser fire” that could reignite at any moment. He called for an immediate halt to Israeli bombardments and indicated that China will review a comprehensive UN report expected in June before finalizing its stance. Still, he noted that many council members appear to share the view that withdrawing UNIFIL now would be ill-timed. Since its expanded mandate following the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, UNIFIL has served as a key mechanism for maintaining a buffer between opposing forces. China’s position underscores a broader concern: that removing this stabilizing presence could heighten tensions and increase the risk of a wider regional conflict at an already precarious moment.